Photograph-exhibitor



(No Model.) G. M. PORTEOUS 82; F. S. MILLER.

PHOTOGRAPH EXHIBITOR.

Patented Mar. 13, 1888.

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IINiTnn STATES GEORGE M. PORTEOUS AND FREDERICK S. MILLER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

PH OTOGRAPH-EXHIBITOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 379,522, dated March 13, 1888.

Application filed January 23, 1888.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, GEORGE M. PORTE- oUs, a citizen of the United States, and FRED- ERICK S. MILLER, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, both residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Photograph-Exhibitors, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in photograph-exhibitors of that kind in which the photographs are contained within a case employed as a substitute for the ordinary book form of album; and is particularly directed to an improvement upon the deviceof United States Letters Patent No. 172,328, wherein the picture-holding frames are carried by an endless belt passing over rollers and confined with a case or cabinet, consisting of a rectangular box having a semi-cylindrical or domeshaped glass top firmly secured to the box and arranged whereby the pictures may be successively brought into view under such glass dome or top and seen through the same. In aphotograph exhibitor of such character the presence of a top for closing the case, so as to pro tect the pictures from dust and dirt, is highly desirable; but the permanently-affixed glass dome-shaped top is objectionable, for the reasons that it is cumbersome and liable to break age, and that when not in use it permits the entrance of light, which tends greatly to fade out the photographs, in addition to which disadvantages the glass must be kept scrupulously bright and clean, and even then, owing to its shape and very presence as well as to different lights, the pictures cannot be seen as clearly and distinctly as is found desirable. It is desirable to make such a case comparatively high to permit it to contain a desired number of pictures, and hence when placed, for example, upon a table the spectator is frequently compelled to look down into the case through its glass top.

The object of our invention is to overcome all of the foregoing-mentioned objections and disadvantages, and to provide a simple and improved construction,whereby when the device is not in use the case may be closed to ex elude light, and also, when thus closed, stand in a proper upright condition; while, on the other hand, when it is desired to exhibit the Serial No. 261.687. (No model.)

collection of contained photographs, the case can be both tilted to the desired angle and opened in amanner topermit the photographs to be successively brought into the open air in a plane best adapted for their inspection.

Further objects are to attain, in addition to the foregoing ends, a light, compact, and economical form and construction, which, while capable of said mechanical advantages, renders the article susceptible of utilization as a parlor ornament.

To the attainment of the foregoing and other useful ends, our invention consists in matters hereinafter described,and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In a photograph-album-case apparatus or photograph -exhibitor involving the several distinguishing characteristics of our invention the case is provided with an open top and with a hinged lid or cover for closing the samewhen the picture-exhibitor is not in use. The case is pivotally hung upon a suitable supporting-standmhereby it can be tilted so as to bring to one side its top that is provided with the lid or cover, whereupon the lid can be swung up and back upon that side of the case which temporarily stands uppermost.

The internally-arranged photograph-holders and mechanism for operating the same are preferably constructed for operation substan tially as in the aforesaid patent, but arranged for successively projecting the photographs out from the case and directly into the open air at such times as the lid may be thrown back, whereby, by tilting the case, throwing back the lid, and operating the mechanism for projecting the photographs the latter can be easily and conveniently viewed by a person sitting alongside the case, while, on the other hand, after use the lid can be closed to exclude both light and dust and the case restored to its normal upright position.

Other features, in connect-ion with certain improved details tending to the general utility and efficiency of the device,will be hereinafter more fully specified.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents, in perspective, a photograph-exhibitor embodying our invention, the case in this figure being closed by the lid and standing in its normallyupright position, so as to bring the closed lid at the top. Fig. 2 represents the same in elevation with the case tipped to one side and the lid open. and thrown back, two pictures being exposed in a plane parallel with the open side of the case and two in a plane substantially at right angles thereto. vertical section taken through Fig. 2 on a plane indicated byline a m.

In said drawings, A indicates the case, and B a comparatively-flat lid or cover, which is hinged to the case along one of the edges of its open top. The cover can be made ofany suitable opaque material, and hence can be made in any desired ornamental way, so that when closed so as to exclude dust the whole may form an attractive article desirable as a parlor ornament. The case is trunnioned or pivotally hung upon a supporting-stand, 0, herein consisting of a base, 0, provided with an upturned bow or yoke, between the arms 0 of which the case is hung. At one or both of the pivotal points of the case suitable means are provided for locking the case at such angle as it may be caused to assume by tilting, it being in this connection only necessary to observe that a set-nut or set-screw, 0 can, for example, be employed for locking purposes.

In Fig. 3, D represents one and D the other of a pair of rollers upon which an endless fiexible band, E, is arranged to travel, the photographic-card-holding frames F being, under such arrangement, each attached along one edge to the endless belt. Preferably both rolls, or at least the roll D, is square in section, whereby, in exhibiting the pictures, any one of the card or picture holders or frames may be brought into position in a plane at right angles to the plane occupied by the next preceding and next succeeding frame, as in Fig. 2, wherein the case is shown open with one of the card-holders projected therefrom.

The case can be readily tilted from the position shown in Fig. 1 to the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and the lid then thrown open and back upon the side a of the case, it being understood that in Fig. 1 such side stands vertical,while in Figs. 2 and 3 it will lie in a substantially horizontal plane.

The lid is preferably provided with a knob, b, which, when the lid is open, as in Fig. 3, will rest on said side a of the case, and hence avoid any danger of the breakage of the hinge or hinges by which the lid is attached to the case. When the case is in the position of Figs. 2 and 3, the knob (Z at one end of roll D will be brought underneath and in position to be conveniently grasped and turned for the purpose of operating the roll and belt.

It will be seen from Figs. 2 and 3 that when the case has been thus tilted about a horizontal axis the open side of the case can be closed by two photographs lying in a vertical plane, and that the intermediate frame or holder, usually carrying two cardsone on each sidewill stand out from the case and likewise place each of its cards in a vertical plane. In this way, where the supporting-stand is of moder- Fig. 3'is a ate height, it can be placed upon a table, and the case so tilted that a person sitting alongside the table can with ease and comfort clearly inspect the pictures and avoid the trouble hereinbefore mentioned of being compelled to stand up and peer through a glass dome. It will also be observed that the case can be set at other desired angles, so that in the event-of a supporting-stand rising from the floor the case can be quickly adjusted to suit persons of different heights.

The selected construction of squared rolls, belt, and frames attached to the belt, is regarded as the best, although it is understood the term mechanism for supporting and operating the card-holders herein includes means operating to produce substantially the results of the mechanism set forththat is to say, to successively project the cards from the case, as describedit being observed that such means for projecting the cards out from the box constitutes a necessary feature in the combination and organization of parts.

The form and proportions of both the case and its supporting'stand may of course be somewhat varied without departing from the ends herein attained.

When the lid is closed, it can be fastened down by any suitable fastening or looking devices, ordinary hooks G being herein illustrated as one of a great variety of devices which can be employed for such purpose.

Vhat we claim as our invention is- 1. As an improvement in photographic exhibitors, the tiltingcase A, pivotally mounted upon a supporting stand and provided with a hinged lid which can be opened and thrown back out of the way when the box is tilted to bring its top to a side position, and a set of photograph-holders, and mechanism, substantially as set forth, for supporting and op erating the same, contained within the case and arranged, whereby when the top of the box is brought to one side and opened the photographs can be successively projected out from the box for inspection, substantially in the manner described, said members being all combined and organized substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. The combination of the tilting case A, provided with a flat hinged lid, B, for opening and closing the top of the case, the set of photograph-holders, and mechanism, substantially as described, for operating the same, contained within the box, a locking device for temporarily holding the box at the required angle, and the stand 0, having arms 0 c", whereon the box is pivotally supported to tilt about a horizontal axis, all constructed and arranged substantially as shown and described, and for the purpose specified.

GEO. M. PORTEOUS. FREDERICK S. MILLER. Witnesses:

CHAS. G. PAGE, L. S. LOGAN.

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